Italian FA Advises Gay Players ‘Don’t Come Out’: Damiano Tommasi Say Homosexuals Not Welcome In Changing Rooms
COMING out in football isn’t ever going to be easy. Thus far, the only player to be out and proud is Swedish footballer Anton Hysen. He came out earlier this year and asked: “Where are all the others?”
Sadly, they may not be too keen to come forward if they’ve heard the comments of the Italian Footballers’ Association. President Damiano Tommasi has said that he would not recommend players publicly come out, because football is “different to every other profession”.
The head of the Associazione Italiana Calciatori said people did not need to talk about their sexuality in order to work in a “civil environment”. He added:
“Homosexuality in football is still taboo. In this sport the players practically live with each other, it’s different to every other profession. Expressing your sexual preferences is difficult in all environments, even more so for a player who shares the locker room, which is an intimate space, with others.”
“In our world there could be embarrassment. A sport where one gets undressed can make it more difficult when working together.”
Tommasi continued:
“I wouldn’t recommend coming out. However, I can exclude that in football there is talk of fear. Rather it is a personal issue. I don’t think one needs to talk about his sexual preferences in order to work or live in a civil environment. In the football world, everything that emerges from the locker room becomes a boomerang, even for those who want to bring a situation to light. Personally, I have never known gay football players. Maybe I did and just didn’t realise they were homosexual.”
So what do you make of that, dear reader? Has he got a point or is Tommasi just being an insensitive git?
Posted: 30th, November 2011 | In: Sports Comments (8) | TrackBack | Permalink
